Stop ranting online, start ranting here

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Stop ranting online, start ranting here

Illustration by Katt Do

Natalie McEwan, Opinions Editor

When faced with a near-empty pitch deck for this semester’s first paper, I asked myself, “Where are all the opinion writers on campus?” 

In a world where people share their opinions online more brazenly than ever, I found myself surprised by just how low participation is here in the Opinions section. In many ways, social media is a much larger Opinions section with a lower barrier of entry. Just about anyone — be it a human or an AI bot — can post their opinions for the world to see. 

Does this make opinion writing obsolete? Far from it. All over social media, from X to TikTok, you are more likely to see a hot take that leaves you angry than a relaxing post. Personally, I have deleted my social media accounts on various occasions, typically after I saw an infuriating take. 

The algorithms online are designed to inflame, but what if I said you could channel that energy into something else — something that could help you advance your career, develop key skills and make new friends, all while making your side of the argument stronger than ever? 

For those of you who are new to opinion writing, it is more casual than an academic essay both in topic and style, but it keeps the bold stances that more neutral news journalism cannot have. You can pitch just about anything as long as it is current; from something annoying you noticed on VCU’s campus, to an opinion you have on a major current event. You probably already announce these opinions every day, from TikToks to texts with friends. 

At this point, you might wonder why you should bother writing a 500 word article on the topic when you can already post something much easier somewhere else. Here is where I could beg for writers, but I will instead share all the ways writing articles can help you.

By publishing articles in the student newspaper, your future career could benefit greatly. For one, you can show years of published proof to those jobs that want multiple years of experience and writing samples for an entry level position, and you can build a strong resume. 

You will also become a stronger writer. By writing bold, argumentative pieces, you will develop a skill no generative AI model can replicate. Plus, you can write what you are passionate about and only contribute as often as you would like. You can write one article a semester or a pitch every week. 

Grammar is a fluid entity — one that changes depending on your genre. Learning how to write within the AP style, the grammar used for news publications, will give you a deeper understanding of the English language and a new tool in your belt. 

I know VCU is an “uncommon” university, so I am trying to find bold people to share their unique stories, perspectives and hot takes. If there is something you just cannot get out of your brain, consider pitching the topic to opinions@commonwealthtimes.org. Getting your wildest opinions officially published in a newspaper is pretty fun. You do not need to consider yourself a writer to consider writing about what you are passionate about. You never know how it might change your life. 

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